MotherGoose Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 We've had egg layers for 3 years and I wanted to do meat birds. I got all males and they should be in a couple of weeks and finished by early dec. I have a processor ready. Anyone done this? Advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsJewelsRae Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 You will be absolutely amazed at the amount of food they eat and water they drink. We did a batch of 20 white rock meat birds a couple years ago and we couldn't believe how fast they grew. I wouldn't consider it again unless they had an open space to forage in order to lower feed costs. Every time we fed them they would attack like they hadn't eaten in days! They were lazy too, they plop beside the feed tray and stay there all day. I think the Cornish cross tend to have more energy though, we had Cornish hens once for eggs (given to us) and boy they were fast and flighty birds, a little high strung. Modern poultry farming has messed with meat birds to the point that the heart and legs often have trouble supporting the rapid growth of the bird that has been bred into them, at 3 months our white rocks were barely able to get around, they were butchered shortly after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsJewelsRae Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I should add, we did ours in summer, it was hot so it didn't help matters with the laziness and crazy thirst of the birds, and the smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherGoose Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 I'm nervous about this new adventure, but I do hope that the cool weather will be kind to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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